Vapor barrier with underfloor heating on upper floor?

[Anna1984]

I am planning to install underfloor heating on the upper floor of my house. Now I wonder if I need to put a vapor barrier between the laminate floor and the heating coils?

I saw on "Arga Snickaren" where a guy had to redo his entire floor because he missed installing a vapor barrier. Then I read in GDS where they installed underfloor heating with just a paper layer between the coils and the floor?

What is the deal with vapor barriers for underfloor heating?

 

[MathiasS]

All flooring manufacturers want it under laminate, engineered wood, or parquet flooring to ensure that the entire floorboard lives in the same climate. There is a concern that the top and bottom sides will move differently otherwise.

I think it's all the same, but the plastic is quite easy to lay down anyway.....

 

[Sunnman]

Check out what the flooring industry recommends. I chose not to lay plastic on the upper floor, but I have solid pine flooring. As I interpret it according to the document, it is not as important for solid floors.

http://www.golvbranschen.se/media/1556/tragolv-pa-golvvarme-2-2005.pdf

 

[anders07]

I wouldn't leave it out... Normally not a problem but it doesn't cost much extra so why take the chance...?

 

[Locke]

Purely from a building physics perspective, I think you can skip it, but it might also have an "anti-squeak function" that you might want.

 

[PCLarsson]

I have underfloor heating (with plates) and floorboards on top of that; haven't placed any space.

Who knows, maybe I'll regret it heavily sometime in the future. But until then I sleep peacefully